Vayikra(Leviticus 1-5)

Animal Offerings

This week's Parsha presents a lengthy, detailed description of animal offerings in the Holy Temple – burning of limbs, sprinkling of blood, flaying of flesh. Modern man may at first find this notion pagan and primitive. It sure sounds quite different from the warm spirituality we imagine our ancestors practicing!

The question becomes increasingly difficult as one considers Judaism's position on care and concern toward animals. Besides the general Biblical prohibition against causing pain to animals ("Tzar Baalei Chaim"), there is also a whole list of separate mitzvot designed for the protection of animals, including: to unload a donkey whose load is too heavy, to give your animal a day off of work on Shabbat, not to muzzle an animal when working in the field (i.e. don't prevent it from eating what it sees), and many, many others.

So why animal offerings? Let's address some basic misconceptions.

Misconception #1: Isn't it cruel to kill an animal?

Why should this bother us? We eat hamburgers and wear leather shoes. We throw footballs and eat Kentucky Fried Chicken (you can even get it kosher in Jerusalem).

So if using animals is justified for physical benefit, then all the more so for spiritual benefit!

(For the record, all offerings had a practical, physical benefit as well. The vast majority were eaten by human beings – e.g. the Passover offering was roasted and eaten at every Seder table! Even with the "all burned offering," the animal's leather was used by the Kohanim.)

Misconception #2: These offerings are a "sacrifice."

The Hebrew word korbon, which the Torah uses to describe animal offerings, is not a sacrifice (as in, giving something up), and it is not an offering (as in, bringing a gift to the gods). Rather, korbon means "to come near." These help a person get closer to God.

In the Temple, we take the animal parts and elevate them onto the altar of God. This is a personal declaration of intent to elevate our material resources to a higher level – to direct it toward the service of God.

For Whose Benefit?

Which leads us to:

Misconception #3: We think, "What kind of god needs offerings from us? Is this some kind of bribe so he won't be angry with us?"

We have to differentiate between Greek mythology and Judaism. The pagan sacrifices were to appease finite gods who had control over a limited aspect of existence. Every god needed something else and the humans could avoid the wrath of the gods by giving them what they needed.

Jewish offerings are not for God. He doesn't need them. God is All Powerful and has everything already. Rather, the offerings are for us. They teach us to take the physical – the body – and sanctify it.

One of the 613 mitzvot is that the Kohen Gadol must keep the Ephod (breastplate) constantly attached. Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch points out that in idolatry, the ceremonial breastplate was typically tied onto the idol. The philosophy was to control the idol and "get it on your side." But in Judaism, the Kohen Gadol ties the breastplate to himself – because it is ourselves that we want to control.

Every human being is comprised of two components – the physical body and the spiritual soul. Each part wants to be nourished and sustained, yet each achieves this in very different ways. The body seeks comfort and immediate gratification: food, sleep, power, wealth. The soul seeks longer-lasting, eternal pleasures: meaning, love, good deeds, connection to God.

The mitzvot of the Torah are designed to guide us toward "soul pleasures." However, when the body exerts dominance, the consequence is a transgression of these mitzvot.

The way to repair that mistake is to bring an offering. The transgressor steps forward and declares: "I have made a mistake and regret the damage it caused my soul. My animal side got the best of me. I don't want to repeat that mistake again. I hereby pledge to slaughter animalism as the dominant force in my life."

Why the Blood and Guts?

When a person sees the animal slaughtered before his eyes, he thinks, "Really I deserve this, but God is merciful and sparing." That's a powerful spiritual experience. Blood is real. It shakes a person. You see the heaviness of life.

Kirk Douglas, the legendary film star, was involved in a serious helicopter crash in 1991. The pilot and co-pilot were killed, but Kirk got out alive.

The event shook him as much spiritually as it did physically. Lying in the hospital bed, he asked himself over and over again: Why was I the one who survived?

Kirk eventually answered his question thusly: I survived because there is something important I have yet to accomplish in this world, a crucial contribution to make. Up until now I have been playing games. Now I see that life is more serious.

Kirk embarked on a program of regular Torah study and began to re-institute the Jewish traditions he'd remembered from his youth. And he began a search for ways to utilize his material wealth to impact the world. It was a transformation back to himself – despite the peer pressure of secular Hollywood fighting against him.

Today, he's more committed than ever. He recently took on the responsibility of building a multi-media theater across from the Western Wall – in order to give tourists an authentic, inspiring Jewish experience. Kirk is driven to make up for lost time.

Just as in the Temple ... the scene of blood, the proximity to death ... thinking "this could have been me." It changes one's life forever.

Visitor Comments: 13

(13)
Pam,
March 20, 2012 6:36 PM

not an animal

This is very insightful and a beautiful picture of drawing near to God byt I don't believe we are animals who lose control of ourselves. We are created in the image of God and set apart for Him. That is our flesh that leans toward sin since the fall of man. Sacrifice is the way to draw near to Him without our death ensuing.

(12)
samuel,
March 7, 2011 7:06 PM

tank-you for the sinthese of the parashaVAYKRA
i was very-interesting .

(11)
Anonymous,
March 24, 2009 7:22 PM

Cannot come to terms with sacrifice

I absolutely adore animals. In the main they are loving, innocent and beautiful creatures. I try to be as observant as I can, but cannot come to terms with the killing and sacrificing of these innocent beings who were given life on this earth, as were we. I haven't eaten meat for a long time and thank the Almighty live a healthy and happy life without finding it necessary. Why should these poor creatures suffer, have their throats slit and offered for sacrifice. I do try my very best to become a good Jewess, but will never come to terms with destroying harmless creatures who share this earthly world with us, starting our life as little playful lambs or calves, only to end up in line waiting for a knife to slit their throat.

(10)
Jossef,
March 23, 2009 9:20 AM

Very Enlightning

This essay answers questions about the Temple sacrifices I have been asking for many years and until now have not received satisfying answers. Thank yoy Rabbi Simmons!

(9)
Susan,
March 23, 2009 8:12 AM

Excellent Clarifications For Vayikra

Very clarifying for those who always question the animal sacrifices and cannot see the differences and meanings. Also good that differentiated the pagan practice from our practice.

(8)
don muntean,
March 23, 2009 6:14 AM

prayers are as offerings

Rambam said that the offerings had more to do with the person offering it and not G-d - in fact we learn from the prophets that G-d somewhat loathed the offerings. I think the offerings were permitted to keep the Israelites away from pagan practices. Clearly they are not needed today. Let's consider that the offerings G-d looks for, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." [Psalm 51.19]
Hosea 14.3 gives the best insight for our times:
Take with you words, and return unto the LORD, say unto Him: 'Forgive all iniquity, and accept that which is good, so will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips.
Good article!

(7)
Anonymous,
March 22, 2007 2:51 PM

WoW!

Kol Hakavod to Kirk Douglas for seeking the truth and doing something about it!

(6)
Susan,
March 21, 2007 6:05 PM

"elevating our material resources to a higher level " on the altar

Why an animal? I have no objection to the eating of animals (allowing the animal to live under proscribed conditions) but burning my car would be more spiritual for me.

(5)
Leigh,
March 20, 2007 10:59 PM

Great article on a very controversial subject

You outlined all the things I thought about animal offerings. If I could wear leather on my feet and eat meat then what is wrong about killing animal for spiritual reasons? This is a hypothetical question.

(4)
Paul James,
March 18, 2007 9:05 PM

Your explaination gave me much to think about.

I feel the way you explained the spiritual depth involved in animal sacrifice as rather moving for me to realize some of the eternal aspects connected with it for the Jewish people. I have to tell you I am a Zionist Christian, and while I may not share all views the same with my Jewish brothers, I feel Judaism has very much truth that we as Christians need to at least hear and consider. Because after all the root s of my faith are deeply attached to everything that is Judaism. Thank you Rabbi for this insight.

(3)
Michal,
March 29, 2006 12:00 AM

Thank you for taking away my misconceptions!

I am so thankful for reading your article on Animal offerings. I had not only one misconception, when I thought about the animal offerings, I had all the three of them.
And I thank you for your answer, which was able to take them away.(Sometimes you host things in hidden corners of your soul, which don't occur to the mind. Only, when you read it - in this short and clear way - you discover it and are able to change. Thank you!

(2)
Deinya Mautz,
March 25, 2004 12:00 AM

KFC is gone

Sadly to say, the KFC resturant in Jerusalem is closed thanks to reduced demand/tourism. We tried to find it the summer of 2002 and were told it was gone. I have very fond memories of my Rabbi "floating" into the hotel in 1998 after satisfying a lifetime desire to try KFC!!

About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons is the co-founder of Aish.com, and co-author of "48 Ways to Wisdom" (ArtScroll). He is Founder and Director of Aish.com's advanced learning site. He is co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive account of anti-Israel media bias. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.